1. The American Renaissance 1840-1860

2. Declaration of Literary Independence A “rebirth” American literary genius A “rebirth” American literary genius Key authors: Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, Poe Key authors: Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, Poe

3. Lyceum Movement Began 1826 Began 1826 Lectures about music, history, philosophy, famous people, scientific advancement Lectures about music, history, philosophy, famous people, scientific advancement Goals of this movement: educating adults, training teachers, instituting social reform, establishing museums Goals of this movement: educating adults, training teachers, instituting social reform, establishing museums Time of social improvement and improved public education Time of social improvement and improved public education

4. Transcendentalists Another “utopian” group that formed Another “utopian” group that formed Term comes from Immanuel Kant based on: Term comes from Immanuel Kant based on: Idea that one must “transcend” everyday reality to determine ultimate reality of God Idea that one must “transcend” everyday reality to determine ultimate reality of God Idea that intuition is important to the discovery of truth Idea that intuition is important to the discovery of truth Ideal belief in human perfectibility Ideal belief in human perfectibility

5. Transcendental Roots Immanuel Kant (German philosopher) Immanuel Kant (German philosopher) Plato (Greek philosopher) Plato (Greek philosopher) Ideas from Europe and Asia fused with American philosophy Ideas from Europe and Asia fused with American philosophy Puritan beliefs (ie, Bradford, Jonathan Edwards) Puritan beliefs (ie, Bradford, Jonathan Edwards) Romantic traditions (ie, William Cullen Bryant) Romantic traditions (ie, William Cullen Bryant)

6. Emerson’s Outlook Optimistic Optimistic God is good. God is good. God can be found directly working through nature. God can be found directly working through nature. Death is simply part of cycle of life. Death is simply part of cycle of life. Man is capable of evil when separated from direct, intuitive knowledge of God. Man is capable of evil when separated from direct, intuitive knowledge of God. Each of us is part of the Divine Soul. Each of us is part of the Divine Soul.

7. The Anti-Transcendentalists The Dark Romantics The Dark Romantics Hawthorne, Melville, Poe Hawthorne, Melville, Poe Not so optimistic Not so optimistic Felt the Transcendentalists ignored the dark side—from Original Sin. Felt the Transcendentalists ignored the dark side—from Original Sin. Explored conflict between good and evil, the psychological effects of guild and sin. Explored conflict between good and evil, the psychological effects of guild and sin.